In a recent interview, Jackie speaks out about the “misconception.” She says, “The biggest misconception is that we are mean and bullies, and we don’t like Draya, but that is not true. We all have something to offer; it’s a lot of judging that goes on, especially because of the way things seem on TV. But once you get to know us as a whole, we all are not bullies and are caring, compassionate women. But we are not bullies—we all are really good people once you get to know us.” Say it one more time and people may just start to believe it!

Of the infamous scene, Jackie, like all reality veterans before her, blames editing for creating a situation that appeared to have all the ladies ganging up on Draya. Jackie explains,“See a lot of people didn’t get to see everything that was being discussed. It comes off like I was being a bully, and it seemed as though we were all just coming down on her, but there were a lot of things that was edited out. Draya wasn’t crying from what I was saying to her.”

She continues, “A lot of things were talked about and said throughout the whole conversation, and yes, I am crazy about my husband, but who wouldn’t be? But I wasn’t just saying it to Draya in a way that came off to be aggressive, even though that is how it may have appeared. Yes, I do have a strong personality, but I also am a loving and caring person.”

Finally, moving on from the Draya drama, Jackie addresses her missing cast mates, Kimsha Artest and Tanya Williams. If you recall, it has been SEVERAL episodes since we’ve laid eyes on those women. Despite a fake facebook page hurling accusations that Shaunie O’Neal orchestrated their absence, both women claim they left on their own because they didn’t like the way their cast members were behaving constant drama.

However, Jackie says we shouldn’t count Kimsha and Tanya out for good yet. She reveals, “I like both of them. I do miss their presence on the show—they are going to come back on a few of the future episodes. We stopped filming now, but they did do a lot of filming separate from myself, because a lot of times we don’t film together. But I do like both of them; I would love to see them be a part of the show again in the future.”

Switching gears from Los Angeles to Miami, recently Royce Reed of the original Basketball Wives claimed she was leaving the show. Once again heading to Twitter to track her career decisions, Royce has changed her tune and decided to return for season four.

Roycetweeted, “Well, As stated last week pertaining 2 BBW season 4 tht things may change and after SEVERAL conversations I have decided 2 return for Season 4. How much, I don’t know because I won’t compromise my career. I was NEVER cut/fired and my decision to return is solely based on negotiations, and messages from my fans. I love y’all and u will see a different side of me Season 4. #ImOuttie”

While many of her fellow cast mates have threatened not to film with Royce, she did receive some love from Tami Roman, who responded, “OK, I don’t know whether 2hug u or smack the ish outta u-girl don’t take me on emotional roller coaster LOL-welcome back :)”

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF JACKIE’S INTERVIEW? IS SHE A BULLY? ARE YOU EXCITED ROYCE WILL BE RETURNING TO BASKETBALL WIVES: MIAMI? DO YOU THINK SHE WAS EVER REALLY GOING TO LEAVE?

You may recall that last week, Kimsha took to the Facebook machine to let all of cyberspace know that Shaunie was behind Kimsha’s lack of face-time on VH1’s reality show. She also not so kindly insinuated that Shaunie spent a good amount of her time kissing up to her fellow cast mate Evelyn Lozada. Not surprisingly, both Shaunie and Evelyn are not going to turn the other cheek.

Evelyn, always the calm one, has come to the defense of her BFF Shaunie, revealing the true reason for Kimsha’s absence on Basketball Wives: L.A. Apparently, she’s not shown because she’s a (say it with me!) non-mutha f**kin’ factor. Of course she is! Evelyn made the following tweets –

“**CLEARING THINGS UP** @ShaunieONeal does not have anything 2 do with the LA show!If your scenes were edited then that means u were a NMFF!

I think it’s ridiculous 2 place blame on someone if your scenes didn’t make the cut! Everything we say doesn’t! Some more than others. Everything u say wont air.

FYI – I’m not kissing anyone’s ass or vice versa! I been friends with Shaunie for 6 years now, way before BBall Wives existed! #Loyal I’m not taking shots either, but some of the shit I read is just plain stupid! I’m being a realest & keeping it 100! Blame your self! #Boom”

That Evelyn is quite the wordsmith.

Shaunie flat out denies any feud between the ladies. In a statement to VH1, she says, “We’ve never met, so there is no relationship. I’ve met Ron [Artest] before a couple times, but never Kimsha, ever. I can’t say anything about her because I don’t know her. I don’t know how you fight someone that you’ve never met nor talked to. We’ve never been in the same place at the same time that I know of. And I would never ever fight somebody, I guess you’d have to meet them first to do that, and that’s never happened. So, I really don’t know where all that came from.”

Even Kimsha’s hubby Ron Artest Metta World Peace is weighing in, saying there can’t be a feud as Kimsha never made the initial attacks on Facebook. He reveals, “Kimsha Artest on Facebook is fake. I will not post her real fb. But that one is fake!!” Metta says, “Don’t believe any negative comments you here about Kimsha Artest. She is happy to be working with viacom and vh1…She has no drama with Shaunie or anyone.” He concludes, “Kimsha Artest does not like drama so that’s why y’all have not seen her on the show. She doesn’t want to be seen representing females falsely.”

Hmmm…legitimate case of stolen identity or major damage control? I’m sure it isn’t all that difficult to create a fake Facebook page, but I also don’t put it past any of these ladies to create major drama and then start back pedaling as fast as humanly possible. A new episode of Basketball Wives: L.A. airs tonight at 8PM ET on VH1.

DO YOU THINK SOMEONE CREATED THE FAKE PAGE TO STIR THE POT, OR WAS THAT THE REAL KIMSHA ARTEST? WHY DO YOU THINK KIMSHA HAS BEEN ABSENT FROM THE SHOW LATELY?

In separate interviews with VH1, two cast members from the third season of Basketball Wives speak out about how they were perceived on the show, feuds with the fellow ladies, and whether they will return for a fourth season. Meeka Claxton and Royce Reed were the two women who clashed with a majority of their cast mates, and now they are having the opportunity to say their peace.

When Meeka left Italy, she wrote Shaunie O’Neal a letter explaining her quick exit after a brawl with Tami Roman. In her interview, Meeka says that she has no regrets over how she left. She states, “I stand behind what I did. You know I tried to stay but it was just continuous bullying from Tami. It wasn’t getting better. So when it finally came to the point of violence I was like I definitely can’t be here. You know I’m a business woman, this was not my scene. That may be her scene and that’s fine.”

Meeka is suing Tami over the incident, reasoning, “It’s pretty much to let her know there are consequences to actions. And that’s pretty much it.” When asked if an mea culpa from her cast mate could smooth things over, Meeka continues, “I don’t foresee an apology from Tami because this isn’t the first time she’s hit someone on camera. She thinks violence is cool and I’m not with that, at all. It’s not something I’m teaching my girls.”

While Meeka cites the show as a growing experience, she doesn’t give a straight answer when asked about her participation in Season 4, which is casting now. At first she says, “Um, honestly I don’t think that will happen.” However she changes her tune a bit and admits, “I think maybe [I’d be open to a fourth season], but only if they showed our lifestyles and behind the scenes.” And as far as her thoughts on the mean popular girls, Meeka reveals, “I don’t have words for any of them, Royce is the only one, and I would say she is honest.”

Speaking of Royce, she has her own thoughts on the show and what she hopes to accomplish in the future. While she hasn’t heard any more from Eric Williams about his porno blockbuster (shocking!), she is still open to starring in his movie. Of Jen Williams‘ reaction, Royce still doesn’t care…nor does she care about Jen insinuating she sleeps with a lot of men. Royce explains, “It doesn’t hurt my feelings because I know it’s not true and also its coming from Jen. She really is not relevant in my life. It would be different if it was coming from a true friend or a family member maybe I would feel that way, but coming from Jen I know that half the stuff that comes out of her mouth is somebody else’s opinion, it’s not her own, and on top of that she just likes to say stuff to start rumors versus it being true or not.”

Royce touches on her friendship with Tami, but tellingly, Suzi isn’t mentioned once. However the majority of her interview is based on her future plans in show business. Royce says, “[A]fter this show is done I’m gonna either have a show of my own, or your definitely gonna see me in the lights but my major was theatre arts and I’m very good at it, not to toot my own horn but toot toot! I’m a actress first. Outside of that I’m extremely intelligent and I can always hold my own and I don’t need to be sitting around drinking and talking about another person.”

Royce adds, “I can be enhancing my own career. So again when this show is over and done with, I plan on doing movies, I plan on going to auditions, and becoming part of a legacy. So I just want to make sure when I look back five or six years from now and I see this show and I’m like ‘Man, look where I started and look where I am now.’ It’s definitely not gonna be the end of me. I have too much to show the world, too much talent, I don’t want to just give it up because of Basketball Wives.”

And while Meeka may be on the fence about her return, Royce plans on definitely being back for a fourth season if she gets her way. She says, “I’m gonna ride it until the wheels fall off for me, but I know that this show isn’t the end of me. I have a lot going on for myself so I can hold my own.” What does Royce have in the works? According to the interview, her fans need to be on the lookout for a children’s book series, an exercise video, a touring play, and a book tour. She also may be doing a calendar, test pictures of which you can see below.

WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE RETURN FOR SEASON 4? WOULD YOU GO SEE A MOVIE STARRING ROYCE? THOUGHTS ON HER CALENDAR PICS?

In an effort to keep that money train going–her words, not mine–Basketball Wives star Evelyn Lozadadishes to VH1 about her cast mate Meeka Claxton, being a villain on the show, and her now settled feud with Tami Roman plus the update on her Non-factor tshirts. Check out excerpts of her interview below, followed by head b*tch in chargeShaunie O’Neal’s thoughts on Meeka and her potential return next season.

Do you ever worry that people see you as a villain on this show?

You need to have a really thick skin to be on this show. I know Suzie can’t even watch the show after we’re done taping because she can’t take it, but you have to get used to that and expect that people will label you. I think people take me being honest and straightforward as me being a bitch but I don’t see anything wrong with that. I’d rather be a villain than a sweet girl, that’s not me.
Honesty is such a big issue on the show.

Everyone’s not honest though. That’s why there’s problems with certain cast members. They aren’t honest and they create drama and lies. That’s why there’s the drama we have on the show. Meeka running around and talking about everybody, it got her in a mess. Meeka just came on as a fan of the show, she sent her picture in, she really wanted to be on the show, the producers didn’t search for her. She tried so hard to fit in instead of just being herself and that’s where things backfired.

You never had direct drama with her, that we saw anyway. Was there any more to your relationship?

After watching the show and seeing certain comments that she made like “I felt that they wanted me to choose sides,” it pisses me off because we made it very clear when we first met and it was on film, “Make your own opinions.” We told her how we feel but base your own opinions. But during filming, I told her to her face, “I don’t like you and I don’t hate you. I feel nothing toward you.” She hasn’t done anything to me directly, it’s just that, why would she say that? And this bullsh*t lawsuit she has with Tami, I think it’s ridiculous.

Even before the fight episode aired, Tami had been saying that Meeka was not a victim and that, you know, she raised her hand up and all that. From what you saw, is that what happened?

Look, this is my thing, everybody handles things differently and as anybody knows, Tami has a temper and especially if you’re lying about her and Meeka was twisting around Tami’s words and it’s kind of…maybe you wouldn’t handle the situation that way but when you’re talking about Tami…

Did you ever think Tami’s lawsuit against you would happen?

No, I thought it was ridiculous. I continued to sell the shirts and I’m still selling them.

So what’s the deal with that, didn’t you max out at your 500 shirts?

You know what, I could probably guess that I sold more than 500 but I didn’t look at my quarterly numbers. I didn’t want to come here lying, so I just chose not to know. I didn’t check.

Don’t you worry about breaking your word with Tami? What if she’s upset that you went over that limit?

I’d say that everyone’s here to make money, everyone signs on to this show for a reason, to promote something, so this opportunity came to me, it was a topic of conversation on the show, and I would be an idiot not to profit from it. Listen, it’s a recession!

What does Chad think about Jennifer’s comments about him?

Chad doesn’t really care about anything. We ran into her at the movie theater and they didn’t talk and that made me very uncomfortable, so obviously the fact that he hasn’t said anything says a lot. I feel like I’m in the middle. And it stems from the interview.

Do you ever watch the show and regret anything or wish the fights didn’t happen?

I think everyone does. But you’re forced to deal with things you normally wouldn’t deal with. So you’re already going into filming pissed and and then things happen and it just builds and builds and builds and things happen…We really are nice people though, I swear.

Also adding her two cents about Meeka is ringleader producer Shaunie O’Neal. Of her costar, Shaunie says, “I didn’t spend a lot of time with her, I experienced her on a few occasions, but the most time I spent with her was in Rome and that’s when I figured out that she was a little sketchy…but I still gave her the benefit of the doubt.” However, it was that fateful trip to Italy when Shaunie realized that their friendship wasn’t going to work.

She continues, “I knew she was not going to mesh with any of us. I just don’t find her to be an honest person at all and I think her intentions, I don’t know exactly what they were. We have a mutual friend outside the show who let me know that she wanted to come on and be this star and shine, but the way she chose to do it, not so much. All of us could probably take a vote right now and never want to see Meeka again and that’d be just fine.”

As for a potential season four of the show, Shaunie admits that she’d be just fine if Meeka didn’t return. Um, doesn’t she have control over that? Of course, since Shaunie just simply hates drama (eyes rolling), I’m betting we’ll see Meeka at least a little bit next season.

THOUGHTS ON EVELYN AND SHAUNIE’S COMMENTS ABOUT MEEKA? SURPRISED EVELYN IS STILL MAKING THE NON FACTOR T-SHIRTS? DO YOU WANT MEEKA WILL RETURN FOR SEASON FOUR?

It’s reunion time for the ladies of Basketball Wives with the first part of the drama (if you can call it that) airing last night. Former NBA star John Salley is back to regulate host the ladies as they reminisce about the third season.

Tami’s wig hair combined with Shaunie’s dress distracts me at first, but a clip of Royce blasting the ladies on last season’s reunion brings me back up to speed. When questioned about the new attitude she found last season, Royce explains she is just being herself. And the real Royce wears Larry Byrd tube socks, not Gucci shoes, to go luxury car shopping. Royce calls out Jen for claiming Jen’s makeover of Royce was her “good deed for the day.” Not one to be one-upped in passive aggression, Jen says, “I don’t hear anyone talking. What’s the next question?”

As for getting smacked in the face with a wave of alcohol by her soon to be ex-husband, Jen was understandably shocked. “To be honest, I know that I threw the glass [first], but I didn’t throw it intentionally to hit him. I felt like when he came back, and he threw the drink, I was like, ‘Wow!’ It was so aggressive and so forceful. It was like, ‘Wow, did he really just do that?’ It was just a confirmation that I was doing the right thing — getting a divorce.” She even reveals that the glass hit her in the chin. While I must agree that Eric was extremely aggressive, I don’t think anyone throws a drink not intending to hit their target. I’m not sure I’m buying that she wasn’t trying to soak him.

Although the pair hasn’t spoken since the incident, Eric did attempt a lame apology via text message. Jensays, “He texted me a few days after he threw the drink and he apologized. But then he said, ‘I heard you found someone.’ That was definitely not the person I married, or maybe it was and it was hidden all that time. To me that just goes to show that you can know someone and never really know them.”

Jen did get to let loose on Eric in a different way at her divorce party. Not only did she have him beheaded on her cake, she also got to whack a pinata mini-me of her ex. Of the paper mache smack down, Jen admits, “It definitely felt good. It felt good to be with my friends and celebrate independence. Although I’m not officially divorced, I know that I’m moving in that direction.” Jen also wants the viewers to know that the make-out session they witnessed between her and William was as far as things went. “We didn’t use the Magnums,” she confesses, adding that William did not go home with her that evening.

Not only did her marriage not survive this season, her friendship with cast mate Royce Reed ended as well after the pair had a blow-up over Royce’s contact with Eric. Does Jen think the two will ever be able to reconcile? That would be a resounding “No.” Jen says, “I don’t really have anything to say to Royce. I feel like she’s very immature and I already tried to explain [that] to her one time. I don’t think she’s going to get it, so I’m done. I’m not going to make you anymore relevant. I’m done.”

Jen also discusses her friendship with Evelyn Lozada. Even after their drama this season, she always knew that they would be okay. Jen states, “You go through ups and downs in your relationships.” She continues, “We fight, we argue, we move on. It wasn’t a big deal where I didn’t think we could move past it.” Regarding her friend’s upcoming marriage to Chad Ochocinco, Jen advises, “When you get married, you just really have to be on the same page with the person. Trust and communication is key.”

Jen also credits the show for helping her deal with some of her own issues. She admits, “It was difficult at times, but I don’t live with regrets. I’m glad it happened that way because who knows — if I wasn’t forced to talk about these things, I may still be in that miserable situation.” And while Jen is ready to move on from her rocky marriage to Eric, don’t expect her to dive into a new relationship right away. She says,“I’m looking for a guy that can make me laugh, we have a good time. Right now, I definitely don’t want anything serious. I’m focusing on me.”

A quick trip to Eric’stwitter page to see his comments on the incident made me realize he’s even harder to understand when he’s writing then when he’s actually speaking. Most of his tweets are too offensive to repeat here, but he did take a lot of joy in retweeting “Splash!” after several followers watched the drink toss. In regard to Jen, he tweeted, “Chick Can’t Stand alone wit out Me!! Trash my Name! Even try to Defame Thy Name! But She Sure as Hell using Me 4 a Story line! LOL. The BS!” along with some Biblical references about him using the drink to cast out her demons. And wow.

It’s the drink toss heard round the world on last night’s season finale of Basketball Wives. Poor Tamra Barney has nothing on Eric Williams when it comes to dousing someone with a cocktail. Last night’s episode mainly featured Jen’s divorce party, with the majority of the women playing supporting roles.

Royce arrives for her meeting to clear the air with Jen, and chaperone Suzie informs her that Jen has left already, unable to forgive Royce for the twitter battles she’s been waging. Royce loves that Jen can dish it, but she can’t take it. According to Royce, her mean tweets (are you there Simon? It’s me, Royce.) are just in response to the other girls smack talk. She begins reading some of Jen’s hypocritical twittersations to Suzie who is trying super hard to look busy with her appetizer. Suzie is this close to being in good with the other ladies…the last thing she needs is for Royce to remind her that she is still friends with her. Royce is indifferent to Jen’s opinion of her.

Welcome back to the States, Basketball Wives! Jen gets her single on, Royce potentially gets her acting on, and Suzie is back in the middle of everything, yet again. Evelyn celebrates a milestone with her daughter, and she and Chad show a different side of their relationship. Tami makes a couple of cameos, and Shaunie is totally absent. Must be jet lag.

Tami is meeting with Royce to “bring her up to speed” on what happened in Italy. Tami still isn’t Meeka’s biggest fan (to put it mildly) and tells Royce there was an altercation. Tami brags that she at least got one swing in, and Royce asks, did you land it? A friendship made in Heaven. Royce makes the keen observation that you can take the girl out of the ghetto, but you can’t take the ghetto out of the girl.

Al Reynolds (yes, Starr Jones’ ex) is apparently Jen’s best guy friend and she is so excited to meet up with him while he’s in town visiting. His first question about her new single lady condo is “have you broken it in yet?” Jen asks, “What, the bed?” “The bed, the bathroom…” Oh, Al, you just took me into the bathroom with you and Starr Jones. I am scarred for life. He wants to set up Jen, and she wants no blind dates–she needs to see the goods. They decide that Jen needs a tall dude with a tall bank account.